Scrap shearing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Scrap shearing apparatus in which scrap is first compacted in a preconsolidating box, the compacted body of scrap then being automatically transferred to a guide box from which it is moved incrementally under the shears. Whilst shearing takes place a further quantity of scrap can be compacted in the preconsolidating box.

United States Patent Inventor Helmut Schoenauer Kalkumer-Schlossallee, 4 Duesseldorf- Kaiserswerth, Germany Appl. No. 792,438

Filed Jan. 21, 1969 Patented Feb. 16, 1971 Priority Jan. 27, 1968 Germany SCRAP SHEARING APPARATUS ,6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

Int. Cl. B301) 15/08 Field of Search 100/39, 94,

95, 98, 218, 232; 83/(lnquired) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1956 12/1958 4/1964 7/1964 11/1960 10/1961 8/l962 1l/l966 2/1968 Thompson Thompson et al. Judd Lindemann et al.

Aichelen Van Endert Lindemann et al. Findlay Williamson Primary Examiner-Billy J Wilhite Anameywilliamson, Palmatier and Bains ABSTRACT: Scrap shearing apparatus in which scrap is first compacted in a preconsolidating box, the compacted body of scrap then being automatically transferred to a guide box from which it is moved incrementally under the shears. Whilst shearing takes place a further quantit pacted in the preconsolidating box'.

100/232 100/232 100/98 100/98 100/232 l00/232X 100/95 100/95 l00/95X y of scrap can be com- The invention relates to scrap shearing apparatus and a particular object of the invention is to reduce delays in shearing in the type of apparatus in which the scrap is compacted before shearing. I

Apparatus for shearing scrap is known in which the scrap is first compacted in a preconsolidating box by reducing the volume of the box to the dimensions of the compacted body to be produced by means of the drive from hydraulic rams acting on one sidewall and the cover of the box. Upon completion of the compacting or preconsolidating operation, the compacted body was advanced stepwise also by means of a hydraulic ram, under the shears positioned at the end-face of the box and cut up into strips of various width depending upon the rate of feed. It was thus necessary for the cutting operation on each compacted body to be completed before a fresh filling operation could be begun by retracting the rams applied to the sidewall and the cover.

This invention is based upon the idea of simultaneously utilizing the time required for the compacting operation for cutting up a preconsolidated body.

According to the present invention there is provided scrap shearing apparatus including a preconsolidating box for the scrap, a guide box for the compacted body of scrap, means causing the compacted body to be moved to the guide box from the preconsolidating box, and means for moving the compacted body in a stepwise fashion in the guide box to position under the shears for incremental cutting of the body.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the base of the preconsolidating box is in the form of a slide or shutter disposed above the guide box, theslide or shutter comprising the means causing movement of the compacted body to the guide box. I

The shears may be positioned to cut across an open end of the guide box and the means for moving the compacted body in a stepwise fashion may comprise an hydraulic ram which moves an end wall of the guide box through the box between its sidewalls.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a sectional side elevation of scrap shears constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIGS. 2 to 6 illustrate schematically the work-cycle of scrap shears of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a preconsolidating box A of scrap shearing apparatus is composed in known manner of the sidewalls 1 and 2, the cover 3 and the base 4. The hydraulic ram 5 operates on the sidewall 2 and the hydraulic ram 6 on the cover 3. When the hydraulic rams are retracted, the space for filling in the loose scrap is free and the scrap is then reduced to the required dimensions of the compacted body corresponding to the space B by operating the rams.

The base 4 of the preconsolidating box A does not take the form of a fixed component but of a slide so that it can be withdrawn upon completion of the preconsolidating operation and the preconsolidated body can be allowed to pass into a second box C, located immediately below the box A, at one open end of which are positioned the scrap shears D which preferably take the form of guillotine shears and comprise an upper blade 7, which moves vertically downwards, and a fixed lower blade 8.

FIG. 2 shows the loading or open position of the precon solidating box A in which the sidewall 2 is retracted and the cover 3 is swung up. The slide 4, which forms the base and is adapted to suit the final dimensions of the preconsolidated body, is in its closed position.

FIG. 3 illustrates the apparatus after the rams 5 and 6 have moved the sidewall 2 and the cover 3 to compress the scrap to dimensions corresponding to a compacted body E. Upon completion of the preconsolidating operation, the slide 4 is withdrawn by means of a hydraulic ram 9, as shown in FIG. 4, so that the preconsolidate body E falls down into the guide box C.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, the slide 4 is pushed forward again into its closed position, the outward movements of the front wall 2 and the cover 3 taking place at the same time so that the preconsolidating box A is again ready for filling. At the same time, a feed ram 10 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) comes into operation and advances the compacted body in the guide box C in a stepwise manner towards the guillotine shears D. The two operations of preconsolidating the scrap and cutting up the compacted body are thus carried out simultaneously so that the shears stoppage time is always reduced to a minimum.

Iclaim:

1. Scrap shearing apparatus including in combination:

a. an enclosed preconsolidating box in which scrap may be preconsolidated to a compacted body;

b. a guide box adjacent said preconsolidating box for receiving said compacted body;

c. first transfer means which cause said compacted body to be transferred from said preconsolidating box to said guide box;

d. second transfer means which cause said compacted body to move in a stepwise manner within said guide box; and

e. shears disposed and adapted to cut said compacted body in an incremental manner when it is moved by said second transfer means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said first transfer means includes a slide or shutter defining a base of said preconsolidating box, said guide box being disposed directly below said slide or shutter.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said guide box has an open end, said shears being located adjacent said open end.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, including a movable end wall of said guide box, said end wall being opposite said open end, and first hydraulic ram means operably associated with said end wall.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said preconsolidating box has a first movable wall and a second movable wall and there are provided corresponding first hydraulic ram means and second hydraulic ram means associated with said movable walls.

6. Scrap shearing apparatus including in combination:

a. a preconsolidating box in which scrap may be preconsolidated to a compacted body, said preconsolidating box having a movable lid, one movable: sidewall and a base in the form of a slide or shutter for discharge of the compacted body;

b. a guide box located below said base, to receive the compacted body, said base forming the top wall of the guide box, said guide box having a movable end wall and an open end opposite said movable end wall;

c. shears located adjacent said open end;

d. first hydraulic ram means associated with said movable lid;

e. second hydraulic ram means associated with said movable sidewall; and

f. third hydraulic ram means associated with said movable end wall. 

1. Scrap shearing apparatus including in combination: a. an enclosed preconsolidating box in which scrap may be preconsolidated to a compacted body; b. a guide box adjacent said preconsolidating box for receiving said compacted body; c. first transfer means which cause said compacted body to be transferred from said preconsolidating box to said guide box; d. second transfer means which cause said compacted body to move in a stepwise manner within said guide box; and e. shears disposed and adapted to cut said compacted body in an incremental manner when it is moved by said second transfer means.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said first transfer means includes a slide or shutter defining a base of said preconsolidating box, said guide box being disposed directly below said slide or shutter.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said guide box has an open end, said shears being located adjacent said open end.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, including a movable end wall of said guide box, said end wall being opposite said open end, and first hydraulic ram means operably associated with said end wall.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said preconsolidating box has a first movable wall and a second movable wall and there are provided corresponding first hydraulic ram means and second hydraulic ram means associated with said movable walls.
 6. Scrap shearing apparatus including in combination: a. a preconsolidating box in which scrap may be preconsolidated to a compacted body, said preconsolidating box having a movable lid, one movable sidewall and a base in the form of a slide or shutter for discharge of the compacted body; b. a guide box located below said base, to receive the compacted body, said base forming the top wall of the guide box, said guide box having a movable end wall and an open end opposite said movable end wall; c. shears located adjacent said open end; d. first hydraulic ram means associated with said movable lid; e. second hydraulic ram means associated with said movable sidewall; and f. third hydraulic ram means associated with said movable end wall. 